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On Friday, Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James analyst William Wallace IV adjusted the price target for Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE:AUB) to $37.00 from the previous $41.00, while continuing to recommend the stock as Outperform. According to InvestingPro data, the stock is currently trading near its Fair Value, with a P/B ratio of 0.91 and showing signs of being oversold. The revision follows a series of investor meetings with AUB’s top executives, including CEO John Asbury (NYSE:ABG), CFO Rob Gorman, and SVP of IR Bill Cimino. The discussions revolved around the impact of recent events in Washington, D.C., the bank’s upcoming merger with SASR, and specific aspects of its portfolio, such as credit marks and its government contracting segment.
Despite the potential need for qualitative reserves for both AUB’s and SASR’s portfolios, the bank’s management reported that overall credit trends are holding strong and unemployment rates remain low. Supporting this outlook, InvestingPro data shows robust revenue growth of 14.48% in the last twelve months, with analysts expecting continued sales growth this year. AUB’s leadership expressed a positive outlook on the bank’s long-term fundamentals, anticipating an increase in defense spending over time.
However, the bank’s management also recognized increased uncertainty in the domain of loan growth, with potential economic impacts stemming from DOGE. In light of these factors, Raymond James reaffirmed the Outperform rating but adjusted the target price to reflect revised estimates and the heightened uncertainty.
The meetings provided an opportunity for AUB to convey its strategic perspectives directly to investors, covering a range of topics pertinent to the bank’s operations and market environment. AUB’s stance on its long-term fundamentals remains optimistic, with defense spending expected to bolster the bank’s performance in the future.
The new price target of $37.00 by Raymond James now stands as a marker for investors, taking into account the bank’s current challenges and the broader economic context influencing its growth prospects and credit outlook. Notably, AUB offers a compelling dividend yield of 4.26% and has maintained dividend payments for 32 consecutive years, with 14 years of consecutive increases. For deeper insights into AUB’s financial health and detailed analysis, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which covers over 1,400 US stocks.
In other recent news, Atlantic Union Bankshares reported its Q3 2024 earnings, showcasing a mixed financial performance. The company exceeded earnings per share (EPS) expectations with $0.82 against a forecast of $0.79, but revenue fell short at $218.4 million compared to the anticipated $222.37 million. This revenue miss has raised some concerns among investors. On the merger front, Atlantic Union Bankshares announced a strategic merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp (NASDAQ:SASR), which is expected to enhance the bank’s market presence and financial strength. The merger with Sandy Spring is anticipated to close by Q3 2025 and is expected to boost Atlantic Union’s earnings per share significantly. In analyst updates, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods revised its price target for Atlantic Union Bankshares from $46 to $44, maintaining a Market Perform rating. This adjustment reflects the bank’s recent quarterly performance, which included a decrease in net interest margin and an increase in provision for credit losses. Meanwhile, Raymond James maintained an Outperform rating with a $41 price target, despite weaker-than-expected results for the fourth quarter of 2024, citing the quality of the franchise as a key factor.
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